Construction is near complete in Hong Kong, where China is building a 4 million-square-foot station for the new trains, as reported by The Hong Kong Free Press.

While the seven-year, $10.7 billion project is certainly impressive, it has faced much controversy surrounding its cost, its construction delays, and how it could affect Hong Kong's political autonomy.

Take a look below.

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When complete, the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link will stretch 88.2 miles and connect Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

Arup

Construction began in 2011, and the majority of the line is already in operation. The last phase in Hong Kong will measure about 16 miles long, according to China Daily.

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The trains, named the Vibrant Express, can go up to 217 mph. They are equipped with power outlets and wi-fi.

In addition, construction of the $10.7 billion railway has experienced several delays and is over-budget.

CityLab also reports that pro-democracy activists are skeptical of the Chinese government’s intentions behind the project.

In a 2017 New York Times op-ed, Lian Yi-Zheng, a political commentator, argued that the railway will allow China to undermine Hong Kong’s political autonomy under the longstanding "one country, two systems" arrangement.

Yi-Zheng and other critics take issue with the immigration checkpoint that will be built inside Hong Kong’s West Kowloon district, which may allow the Chinese government to pass security laws that limit political freedoms in the city.

A rendering of the West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong.
MTR Corporation

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The Guangshen'gang XRL will certainly transform how residents commute across the country.

MTR Corporation

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By 2020, China plans to expand its high-speed rail network to around 18,600 miles, linking most of the nation’s big cities.